dwgreenlee

You really, really need a good TA to handle this sort of thing for you. Forget about discounts, rebates, TA perks, this is the sort of thing a good TA does in moments. They know who to call.

I do not see how a TA is going to fix document production problems. r/Don

That story is just that a story..I checked for you and the plant is running behind printing the CVG..If you want just luggage tags, again I suggest you ask for them to be sent out to you blank and you can fill in the cabin..

Jancruz1

Thanks, I will call them again and ask for blank luggage tags. The first lady I talked to did mention delays but assured me they were on the way. They all seem a little flustered but that is understandable if there are production problems. Thanks again for decoding the situation. r/Don

That didnt change..you should have received it..I suggest you call today and just ask for luggage tags to be sent themselves if you dont care about the book..next week you will get your final documents by email..

Jancruz1

New story. Spoke to Linda who said they were issued yesterday - last week they were in the mail - and I should receive them in 7-10 days. She told me the delay was because I just booked it April, I noted that was April 2014 and April 2015 to June 2015 should be plenty of time anyway, then she said I took a change offer and I noted that there was no change in the booking since April 2014. Anyway, not real sure what is going on but she assured me they were in the mail. I will call again next Wed and see what the story is then. Seems like a lot of trouble for luggage tags.

You should have had them by now..did you get your cruise vacation guide..they are in there and you get those about 8 weeks before departure..

Jancruz1

No mailing at all. I know what to expect unless it changed since my 2012 trip. The package they send is pretty much useless except for the luggage tags. I seem to remember that I got the 2012 mailing 6 - 8 weeks out then but things do change. I spoke to them last Wednesday and they said it was in the mail. As noted, I am going to call again next Wednesday. r/Don

On our April cruise on Marina somehow we did not received our package. When I inquired I was told it had been mailed several weeks earlier. (A couple in Israel received theirs and we were still waiting which is what impelled me to ask the question.) So Oceania had to send a second package fairly close to our departure date .... but we DID get them in time!

 

Mura

Thanks for the input. I am going to call them again at the 4 week mark - next Wednesday - and ask for a second mailing. r/Don

I'm sure that you know that they aren't cardboard tags in the traditional sense, anymore.

These days, they're peel and stick strips

Thanks for the image. It was 2012 when I last traveled on Oceania and I really did not remember what they looked like. The other 5 cruise lines - including NCL - I deal with have all converted to electronically delivered tags. It is still a little over 4 weeks till departure so I will just wait by the mail (snail mail) box. r/Don

You may want to rethink the "no TA."

Could be you're losing a "chunk o change" in OBC not to mention the savings on occasional O/partner TA special deals.

Not worried about that stuff - just want my luggage tags. r/Don

In that case, did you fill out your pre-cruise questionnaire?

You'll need to have that completed before your documents are issued.

Yes - assuming you mean the guest registration form - even got a completed copy of it emailed back to me. All paid as well, shorex booked and paid, dining reservations made - just short luggage tags. Thanks for the response - I am wondering if I missed something as well. r/Don

In our experience

The cruise planner usually comes 4-8 wks prior to your cruise the luggage tags are in the back of the booklet

I would ask your TA if they will be send to them first??

 

Ours come direct from O

 

Not to worry as the porters will have extra tags they can attach when you drop your bags

No TA - I do not use them. Thanks for the input - I will wait by the mailbox. r/Don

I depart on Insignia on 08 July and fly to Miami on 01 July. I still have not received the mailing with luggage tags, etc. I called and was told they were in the mail but it seems like I should have them by now. Any thoughts?

Ump

 

The point is the bigger picture - the changes are, in themselves, fairly minor. The over-riding issue is the manner in which they are instituted: (lack of communication to pax and staff; poor PR; no thought as to the collateral implications of these 'back-of-the-envelope' policy changes).

 

These issues, coupled with the apparent disrespect for passengers shown by one of the senior management team, leads some of us to think that we do not trust these people with our safety or our vacation money.

 

Who knows what other 'bright ideas' this person will come up with?

 

I for one, do not trust him not to screw about with a decent product.

 

What will change between me booking, paying and sailing?

 

If I do not trust a company to deliver what they advertise at the time I book, I will not do business with them. NCL is currently falling within my list of not trusted companies.

I could not agree more. A lot of discussion about dirty dishes, fees, etc. has confused the situation. For me the key issues are:

(1) NCL Holdings' management made statements in a semi-public stockholder meeting that they desired to attract a slightly more affluent customer to the NCL Brand. Many long-term NCL customers - including me - were insulted by this statement.

(2) NCL Holdings' management made an untenable decision (no take out food) that effected thousands of shipboard personnel and the entire customer base of NCL - NCL Holdings' largest brand - without any market or customer research or any form of due diligence at all.

(3) Rather that apologizes, or even admit it was a mistake, NCL Holdings management backpedaled by simply saying they did not put much thought into the decision.

(4) Since the acquisition of PCH, NCL Holdings' brands have attracted major national and international press attention from three incidents (Insignia fire, drowning on Gem and grounding of the Dawn), which also resulted in four deaths. Considerable adverse press was also received from the take out food policy.

Being a simple customer I cannot identify blame for these decisions, actions or events. However, I can state that this is not the conduct of a company that wish to spend my vacation dollars with nor do I really want to trust my life and safety with.

For me, I am not canceling the bookings I have with the NCL Holdings' brands (all made before the acquisition of PCH) but I am not making any new ones at this time.

In the interest of full disclosure only, I have traveled on NCL 121 days and have 7 days booked, Oceania 14 days traveled and 39 days booked, and I have never traveled on Regent. Princess is by far my favorite Brand with 231 days traveled and 41 days booked. I have also traveled on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, and Carnival.

We are sailing into Victoria BC on Regatta, does anyone have any idea how long immigration will take please. We are due to arrive at noon. Will it be quayside or done on board.

We did the same thing last year (May 2014) - after port calls in San Diego, Los Angles, and San Francisco we did a port call in Victoria and then disembarked in Vancouver. We filled out a Canadian custom/immigration form onboard the ship and turned in to the front desk several days in advance of the Victoria call.

There was no face-to-face inspection in Victoria or Vancouver (for us anyway). We did see inspectors in both ports (ashore) - some talking to people - but have no idea why. There was no delay going ashore in Victoria and only the normal luggage unloading time in Vancouver.

Of note, we are both US Citizens with no criminal records and we were traveling on NCL. The experience may be different for citizens of other countries and when traveling on other lines - and it may have changed over the past year.

Docked around 0600-0700 EDT (1630-1730 LT)(gotta love Sri Lanka being +5.5 hours). Singapore is +8, so at 18 knots, she needs to leave at noon LT tomorrow to make that 0900 LT arrival.

Makes sense. Some crew were reporting joining her on 3/17 (4:40 Local 3/17/15 now). She does not pick up passengers till 3/22 so it looks like they intend to get to Singapore a day early. Do you know if Singapore does port state inspections?

Insignia is now docked in Colombo. AIS is reporting destination Singapore ETA 01:00 UTC March 21, 2015.

Underway. 1000 EST, 1400 UTC, 1800 Local.

As of 1100 UTC, 0700 EST, 1500 Local, Insignia was still in-port Salalah but shows Colombo (Sri Lanka) as destination ETA 03/16/2015 at 1230 UTC.

We have entered in a taxi numerous times, the latest this past December. We just held up our passports (easiest ID to reach) open to Photo ID. No other document was required to enter the port.

I have never used a taxi so I cannot speak to that. When we used a transfer in Jan 2014 there was no ID (except the Driver) or document check at all. I still will, and will recomend,that passengers do, have ID and Docs ready - since that is what the web site and flashing sign says. If using a professional transfer I would recommend following the guidance of the driver.

I have entered the port many, many, many times -- I have

a stack of at least 50 mirror hang tags -- meeting someone -- and

used only photo id, with no cruise docs.

 

I guess if you have cruise docs, show them. But, they are not

required in real life.

We entered three times in the Jan-Feb 2015 - twice in our car and once on foot. Each time, consistent with the web page and the flashing sign, we showed our passport cards and cruise documents/card. Each time they were inspected and compared to our ID. I am sure there is a different process for people entering to pick someone up, make deliveries, etc. I did not cover those situations since they did not apply to the OP's situation. I know the process is different when using transfers and I noted that in my original post.

Originally Posted by dwgreenlee

We also got the progressive boarding email but ours indicated that priority boarding was exempt. By my count you should be Elite and can board anytime within the total boarding window.

Our notice said "Priority check-in will be available to guests with a Preferred Boarding Pass within the allocated check-in times after dropping off luggage and clearing security. But of course, nobody cared.

Eat lunch at the International Cafe on deck 5 - few people will know it is there and you can relax until your stateroom is ready - generally about 1:00 PM. Almost all of the time your stateroom will be ready when boarding starts. Even if it is not fully ready, you can drop off your carry-on luggage there as soon as you board.

see above in red

R 2:15 PM - Aloha and Lido Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with A and L 2:45 PM - Baja and Plaza Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with B and P

Government issued picture id is all that is required.

Otherwise, no one would be able to pick up their friends...

 

I was a little miffed when the rent-a-cop wouldn't accept

my passport, and demanded to see my driver's license.

 

As he wan't a sworn law enforcement officer, it was a violation

of the drivers privacy protection act for him to ask.

 

As cops generally lack a sense of humor, I didn't point this out

to the deputies milling around.

 

15-30 minutes? I don't think I have ever seen a wait like that;

and if I did, I would bail-out and use an alternative entrance.

 

The fly-over to 595 is now open in both directions, and while

fast inconvenient for terminal 2.

I used a passport card - was not requested to show a drivers license. Check out http://www.porteverglades.net/cruising/. It clearly indicates ID and Cruise docs required. Quote "Have your cruise documents and government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) ready when arriving at the Port's security checkpoint." The flashing sign as you approch the gate says the same thing. Traffic is the reason for any delay. Going to another entrance is a little hard due to traffic.

In my experience, the elite waiting area in terminal 2

is on the second floor, just to the right of the elevator.

 

It faces the street side of the terminal, rather than the ships.

In all our cruises out of Port Everglades we only had to show id at the entrance - and I don't recall anyone checking each document, we would hold them up and the taxi/car service would be waved on. I don't know why it would possibly take 15-30 minutes.

Check out http://www.porteverglades.net/cruising/. It clearly indicates ID and Cruise docs required. Quote "Have your cruise documents and government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) ready when arriving at the Port's security checkpoint." The flashing sign as you approch the gate says the same thing. Traffic is the reason for any delay.

see above in red

That was the email notice language - the actual boading pass showed a 12:30 to 3:00PM check-in window. I would still interpret "within the allocated check-in times" to mean anytime in the check-in process - otherwise the priority boarding would be meaningless. That noted, this debate is meaningless since the port does not enforce progressive check-in.

Stateroom ready times vary based upon a number of factors and I have seen them run as late as 3:00PM. Yes Princess will allow you to go to your stateroom and drop baggage but that is not my recommendation. Let the stewards do their job while I enjoy lunch - especially considering the International Cafe is close to the boarding point.

We got e-mail about this type of check-in. Anyone board the Regal recently in Fort Lauderdale that can tell me if this is enforced? We are scheduled to board at 2:00. Thanks for any help regarding progressive check-in!

We boarded the Royal at Port Everglades Terminal 2 in January - which the Regal also uses. We also got the progressive boarding email but ours indicated that priority boarding was exempt. By my count you should be Elite and can board anytime within the total boarding window. Also, there was no indication that anyone in the port ever heard of progressive boarding much less enforced it.

Port Everglades has a security checkpoint (ID and Cruise Documents required) at the entrance of the port property which will add a 15-30 minute delay if arriving by private car or taxi - something less if arriving by Princess transfer.

Upon arrival at terminal 2 - target for 1130 - you will be invited to get in line for security on a converted loading dock. Keep to the right as that is the priority line. There is signage but it is pretty bad and the so-called Princess line monitors do not really know what they are doing. The lines look the same but the regular line snakes around inside the terminal where the Priority line does not. Next is the Ebola scare checkpoint - hint: the answer to all the questions is "no." Proceed upstairs and look for the check-in counter corresponding to your status - Platinum, Elite or Suites. This is important since your ship's card will be at that check-in counter - again do not rely on the port line monitors.

With your ship's card in hand proceed to the seating area. Be sure you set in the Elite area - just to the right after you enter the seating area - and you will board first - likely shortly after noon. Eat lunch at the International Cafe on deck 5 - few people will know it is there and you can relax until your stateroom is ready - generally about 1:00 PM.

Have fun, the Regal and Royal are great ships and Princess Shipboard services are outstanding.

With RCI, all passengers in a cabin must check in at the same time and there is only one boarding pass to use.

 

Sometimes that can be very inconvenient.

One pass on RCI - by default anyway. Not generally a problem but a few years ago we did request and receive separate documents. As far as I know Princess always issues separate boarding documents. I just found it interesting that our "Princess" agent was operating in the RCI mode - perhaps the only training he had received.